'Feral' axe-wielding grandad broke into Leeds shopping centre and took £16,000 of O2 goods
A grandad with the longest criminal record that a judge had ever seen has been jailed again after smashing his way into a shopping centre.
Dilwyn Hoare was with an accomplice when they used an axed to force entry to Crossgates Shopping Centre in the dead of night, then used a brick to smash the window of the 02 shop.
They then bagged up with iPhones and tablets worth more than £16,000.
Drug-addict Hoare, who has 235 previous offences to his name, was jailed at Leeds Crown Court.
Judge Ray Singh told him: “You knew exactly what you were doing. You have been in trouble so many times, I’m not sure I’ve met an offender with 235 offences on their record.
“The courts have tried absolutely everything. You have had every single opportunity available and the only respite the public will get is if you’re given a term of imprisonment.
“It was feral behaviour. It must be prison, there is no alternative. You are somebody who is beyond rehabilitation.
“I can almost guarantee you will commit offences again when you are released from prison.”
The court heard that 47-year-old Hoare and his accomplice were caught on CCTV using the axe to smash and prise open the entrance doors of the shopping centre at around 4am on May 31.
They then climbed through and used a brick to smash the window to the O2 shop, stacking up equipment in bags for life they had brought with them.
The alarms sounded and they tried to leave as the police arrived. Hoare was quickly detained after trying to run. The other male got away.
The total cost of goods stolen and damage came to £18,972. HE later admitted a charge of no-dwelling burglary.
Mitigating, Jordan Millican said Hoare had been a heroin addict for 28 years and was stealing to feed his habit.
He said that Hoare, of Pool Square, Crossgates, was now drug free while being held on remand and wants to remains so after being freed.
Mr Millican said Hoare is now a grandfather, that his mother had passed away while he was locked up and is desperate to get out of prison to look after his frail father.
But Judge Singh refused to offer sympathy, telling Hoare he knew all of these issues and yet still committed the burglary.
He jailed him for 28 months.